Report Details Vile Behavior of Dolphins Players

Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Richie Incognito, along with two other lineman, bullied teammate Jonathan Martin, according to a report released by lawyer Ted Wells following an investigation into the matter ordered by the NFL.

The report released on Friday concluded that Incognito, along with linemen John Jerry and Mike Pouncey, “engaged in a pattern of harassment directed at not only Martin, but also another young Dolphins offensive lineman, whom we refer to as Player A for confidentiality reasons, and a member of the training staff, whom we refer to as the Assistant Trainer.” The harassment detailed in the report included racial and homophobic insults along with taunts about Martin and his family members.

A second-year player, Martin abruptly left the team in October and sought treatment for emotional distress reportedly relating to mistreatment by his teammates. Incognito, who will become an unrestricted free agent in March, was suspended by the Dolphins in November and missed the final eight games of the regular season.

In an interview with Jay Glazer of FOX Sports conducted that same month, Incognito admitted to using obscene language in communications with Martin but insisted the players had been friends. In a series of tweets two days before Wells released his report, Incognito lashed out at Martin, claiming “the truth is going to bury you.” Contrary to Incognito’s tweets, Wells’ report clearly rejected the notion that Martin fabricated his claims.

The Report rejects any suggestion that Martin manufactured claims of abuse after the fact to cover up an impetuous decision to leave the team. Contemporaneous text messages that Martin sent to his parents and others months before he left the Dolphins — which have never before been made public — corroborate his account that the persistent harassment by his teammates caused him significant emotional distress.